Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-16
THE RAPE CASE,
GOrm1ee Not Yet Arrested-The
Child,s Condition.

Child's Condition.
The residents OF this city and vicin-
ity were Mortified, yesterday, on read
ing the report in the HERALD of the
brutal outrage of the 11-year-old
daughter of Mrs. Mary Curtis, by Tom
Gormlee. Throughout the day groups
of excited individuals could be seen
congregating on the street corners,
discussing the revolving details of the
crime. Some endeavoredto find some
mitigating circumstances to explain
the causes that led up to the
perpetration of the outrage, but
in vain. A few hot-headed indi-
viduals agreed that the brute
should not be allowed to have trial
From the truthful and well connected
story told by the unfortunate little
girl, together with the unquestionable
evidence of the assault shown upon
her person, there can be no possibility
of Gormlee's innocence, and, as
wretch guilty of one of the highest
offences known in the calendar of
crimes, public opinion seems to lead
strongly in favor of lynehing. AS
soon as the sickening details of the
crime reached the City Prison, on
Wednesday afternoon, immediate
preparations were made to capture
Gormlee, if it was within the range o
possibility. Officer W. II. Bosqui and
Deputy Constable J. III. Johnson inn
mediately hired wagon at their own
expense and started for Gormlee's
cabin, situated about twelve miles
distant from this city and about three
miles from Lamanda Park. The trip
proved a very tiresome one, especially
as they travelled at a very slow gait,
watching the while for any traces of
the ruffian. About IL O'Clock they
arrived within mile of the hut. They
concealed the rig in the bush and
started out slowly for the place where
the horrible purpose of the brute was
accomplished. They laid in ambush
for three hours, expecting at each
moment that Gormlee would put in
an appearance. They felt confident
that during the night he would return to
the house, either to secure some clothes
or see the woman with whom he had
been living. Hours sped by and not
the slightest trace of the fellow pre-
sented itself. 1t finally dawned upon
them that their hopes would not be
realized and that Gormlee must have
departed for scenes anew. They left
their place of concealment and stealth
lily crept over to the hut. They
listened for some time endeavoring to
hear his voice; not hearing any signs
of life within, they entered the house.
The woman lay upon cot in the
corner of the hovel and it was
several minutes before she could re-
cover sufficiently to speak. She recog-
nized both the officers and asked what
they wanted of her. She was pacified
and an endeavor made to learn from
her the whereabouts of he paramour
She declared that she ha not seen
him since the morning when he left
the house. She was terribly fright
ened, and the officers are confident
that had she known where Gormlee
was she would have confessed, as she
appeared to be laboring under the inn
preston that she would be mixed up
in the case. The officers then came
back to this city and arrived here by
daylight. 1t was subsequently ascer-
tanned that when Gormlee left the
house on Wednesday morning he
walked to Monrovia and kept concealed
during the day. In the evening he
was seen around the streets in COM
pany with stranger. 1t was also
learned that he purchased ticket |
for San Bernardino. 1t is not known |
whether this was done to lead the |
officers ON wrong track or not. 1t is
thought, however, that he left Monro-
via on yesterday mornings train for
San Bernardino and that he will be
captured at that point.
As soon as Chief Skinner learned
that there was a possibility of running
down the brute, he instructed
Officer Bosqui to 60 down to
San Bernardino and endeavor
to capture him. He furnished
the costs out of his own pocket, saying |
that he would be willing to 60 to any |
expense to lodge the ruffian safely |
within a cell OF the county jail. Bos-
qui will thoroughly search San Ber-
nardino and if his search proves fruit
less he will go to Yuma. He will
then visit Tucson, Arizona, and neigh
boring towns and will leave no stone
unturned to accomplish his purpose,
and from appearances there is every
probability of Gormlee's capture.
Little Maggie Curtis was seen yes
terday and was found to be still suf-
fering but in a fair way to recovery:
She is still, however, in very bad
condition and it will be some time be-
fore her little form will be free from
pain. No warrant was issued yester-
day for the arrest of the woman, but
she is reported to be well known
character about the city and can be
found whenever wanted.